Canadian pension funds have a mandate to deliver steady pension payments to millions of plan members, writes Professor Sebastien Betermier in Benefits Canada. But that’s easier said than done, and the most cost-efficient way to deliver is by investing in a globally diversified portfolio tilted toward strategic assets. This type of asset, however, isn’t available in Canada, so pension funds look for them elsewhere.
In 2023, the Quebec electric vehicle maker Autobus Lion opened a $150 million truck manufacturing facility in Illinois, but its expansion into the United States has not gone according to plan. Much of its 900,000 square foot facility sits empty, and the company is sub-leasing the space. Now, the company is on the brink of bankruptcy and working with investors to determine if it can be salvaged.
In 2022, Quebec’s so-called ‘welcome tax’ generated more than $1.4 billion for municipalities, with Montreal alone pulling in more than $410 million. Though it sounds like a penalty for new arrivals, its name is actually derived from former Quebec cabinet member Jean Bienvenue, who tabled the bill proposing the tax; Bienvenue’s surname translates into English as ‘welcome’. These municipal-level real estate transfer taxes can range from a few thousand to tens of thousands of dollars, and property buyers must pay within 30 days of closing their purchase.
The ۲ݮƵ International Portfolio Challenge (MIPC) 2024 was held in November and drew a record 99 teams from 47 universities across 17 countries, cementing its reputation as a premier global finance competition. This year’s focus on building inclusive retirement systems for gig workers and those facing income uncertainty sparked innovative solutions from participants. A standout addition was the inaugural Women in Buy-Side Panel, addressing gender disparities in finance.
The Laidley Centre for Business Ethics and Equity (LCBEE) hosted its second annual Business Ethics Conference on November 15 at ۲ݮƵ, focusing on "Ethics in the Aviation Industry." Over 80 attendees participated in panels exploring sustainability, accessibility, and social responsibility.
Cryptocurrency exchange-traded funds (ETFs) allow investors to hold a variety of cryptocurrencies in a single investment product. While all of Canada’s Big Six banks now include some crypto ETFs in their portfolios, these investments represent only a small fraction of their holdings. A major advantage of ETFs is their ability to offer protection from market volatility. However, given the speculative nature of crypto means it can still be extremely volatile, even within an ETF structure.
A 2022 study by researchers at ۲ݮƵ Desautels revealed that when shoppers were offered a promotion that gave them a choice between a healthy snack and a pastry with their coffee, sales of healthy snacks increased by more than 1000%.
Colleen Timm (MSc’97, IMHL'21) has been appointed to a four-year term as Associate President and Executive Director of the ۲ݮƵ University Health Centre. The graduate of ۲ݮƵ’s International Master’s in Health Leadership program has worked at MUHC for more than 23 years, first as a speech-language pathologist and most recently as Director of multidisciplinary services.
With inflation pinching household budgets, the Government of Canada has introduced a temporary two-month GST holiday on select goods and services.. While restaurant meals are included, diners are unlikely to notice much of a difference, says Yu Ma, Associate Professor of Marketing at ۲ݮƵ Desautels. On a $20 restaurant tab, the 5% GST amounts to only one dollar. "I don't know how many people will notice the change in their final bills," Ma told CTV News.
Donald Trump has imposed 25% tariffs on Canadian steel before and also lifted them. And then imposed them again. The on-again, off-again tariff truce cycle has played out in multiple industries, and Canada can expect more incendiary rhetoric on trade in a second Trump term, writes Professor Vivek Astvansh in The Conversation Canada. So how should Canada engage with Trump’s theatrical approach to politics? “Ideally, leaders talk to each other and resolve disagreements,” says Astvansh.
Anna Kim has been recognized with a Organizations and the Natural Environment (ONE) Early Career Teaching Award 2024. The Associate Professor of Management was recognized for her dedication to sustainability and innovative approach to teaching. Given by the Organizations and the Natural Environment division of the Academy of Management, the award recognizes excellence in teaching topics related to critical interactions between organizations and the environment.
Congratulations to Jason Binette-Adams (BCom ‘19, GCPA '20) on receiving the Graduate Certificate in Professional Accounting Dedication Award.
This award recognizes excellence in guidance by guest GCPA lecturers or experts. Excellent teaching can be demonstrated through a well-designed course, engaging in-class activities and materials, use of innovative teaching strategies, and a commitment to improving one's courses through feedback.
Counting citations is an important way that a scholar’s academic influence is measured, but not all citations are created equal. Sometimes, widely-cited researchers don’t have much influence beyond their own narrow academic niche. New platforms like OpenAlex and Scite adjust for this type of difference and seek to provide a more balanced picture of influence across disciplines—as well as whether a citation is supporting, challenging or simply mentioning the original work.
Dr. Paul Hébert (IMHL’20) has been appointed to a 5-year term as president of the Canadian Institutes of Health Research, the federal organization that funds health research. A clinical scientist at the Bruyere Health Institute, practicing palliative care physician and professor at the University of Ottawa’s faculty of medicine, Hébert is a graduate of the International Masters for Leadership, a cohort-based graduate management degree for health professionals.
Integrating an equity, diversity and inclusion (EDI) lens into artificial intelligence systems is no longer a luxury or optional, writes ۲ݮƵ Desautels Faculty Lecturer Simon Blanchette in The Conversation Canada. Without it, AI risks reinforcing existing biases. The creators of the technology should integrate EDI from the ground up, and adopt practices that promote its integration into their tools, like ensuring that development teams are diverse, establishing accountability frameworks, and cultivating inclusive work places.